Kevin S. Parker's posts related to Civil Rights

(Brooklyn, NY) - “Today, I stood with 29 other New York Senate Democratic Senators to vote in favor of the NYS DREAM Act.

This piece of progressive legislation was brought to the floor earlier this evening and if passed, would have ensured immigrant children, in search of the American dream through educational access and financial aid, the road map to success.

Senate Republicans failed our young people. Not a single member of the Republican Conference voted yes. Not a single member of the Republicans voted yes for opportunity or yes for equality.

(Brooklyn, NY) – Yesterday, the State Senate passed Senator Kevin Parker’s bill, S951A, which increases the penalties arising from bias related graffiti to make it even clearer that hate crimes must end in New York. In 2012, the number of hate crimes in New York increased by 30%, and in 2014 barely a week has passed without an account of anti-Semitic graffiti on privately owned vehicles or public buildings, such as the anti-Jewish graffiti rampage of last weekend in Central Brooklyn.

(Brooklyn, NY) - "Sixty years ago today, the Supreme Court of the United States announced its unanimous ruling in Brown v the Board of Education. As we all know, the Court's decision made it crystal clear that not only were the racially segregated school systems of the day unequal and illegal, but that segregated schools could never be equal and therefore violated the U.S. Constitution.

(Brooklyn, NY) - “Today the world lost a beacon of hope and inspiration in the passing of literary giant and poet laureate Dr. Maya Angelou. Dr. Angelou died at the age of 86, after a life spent as a civil rights activist, award-winning poet, actor, singer, dancer, professor, mentor and author of several autobiographies and novels that will continue to shape the hearts and minds of generations to come,” said Senator Kevin Parker.

Based in Albany, New York, the New York State Defenders Association is a non-profit, membership organization, that provides direct services and training programs to the 6,000 lawyers who represent family or criminal court cases for low income people.

For direct assistance, visit their website at www.nysda.org or call 518-465-3524.

(Brooklyn, NY) - “Today, America lost Ruby Dee, an award-winning actress and icon of the Civil Rights Movement,” said Senator Kevin Parker. “Ruby Dee died at the age of 91, after a life spent as a star of stage and screen, and as a civil rights activist with her husband the late Ossie Davis, with whom she shared the duty of Master and Mistress of Ceremonies at the 1963 March on Washington.”

"Chanukah is the celebration of miracles, a reminder that all things are possible," Senator Parker said. "As you celebrate the spirit of Chanukah with friends and family, I wish you health, happiness and good fortune." The holiday celebrates a legendary victory of the Maccabees, a band of Jews, over a Greek army that occupied the Holy Land. After the battle, the victorious Maccabees found only a one day supply of oil in the temple to light the lamps. But the oil burned miraculously for eight days, the story says.